Explosive projectile.



' PATENTED MAR. 1,'1904. J. P.MEIGS & E. GATHMNN.

EXPLOSIVE PROJEGTILE.

TIN FILED 00129, i903.

` Unire@ Srn'fras finlrnnfr Ormea.

Patented March 1, 1904.

JOHN F. MEIGS AND EMIL GATHMANN, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENN- SYLVANlA. ASSIGNORS TO THE BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, oF

SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL-v VANIA.

EXPLOSlVE PRQJECTILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent N o. 753,504,`dated March 1, 1904.

Application iled October 29, 1903. Serial No. 179,089. (No model.)

The objects of this invention are to produce ro anfexplosive projectilehaving for a given Size or'weight a maximum columnar strength insuring Aa maximum penetrating effect, a .maximum volume of cavity toprovide for a large explosive charge, and to -secure these i properties without impairing the disruptive effect. of vthe shell when exploded.

Other objects are t0 improve the detailsvof construction of such projectiles.

The shock and resulting strain tending to zo break up or upset any projectile on impact is greatest at or near its forward portion, and is proportional tothe extent of perforation, a'nd is greater or less depending on the mass to the rear of the point under the highest n 5 strain. is mass comprises the walls surrounding the cavity and the rear end orf base of the projectile. The walls surrounding the cavity have heretofore generally been cylindrical in this class of projectiles,v and the rear or base-of the-,prjectile hasbeen a solid heavy mass of suiiicient thickness longitudij nally to receive the fuse.

In our improved projectile we have ref duced thethickness ofv the "walls surrounding the cavity materially as compared withy shells of this class heretofore manufactured, Aand we Ahave maintained the Vnecessary columnar strength to prevent upsettingof thebodyof the shell by providing internal longitudinal ribs or'stiii'eners which project into the cavity. We have thus secured with a given weight of retal a maximum cavity coupled with suflicient columnar strength and with longitudinal lines oir zones of weakness, which facilitate S the disruption of the shell when exploded.'

lbodying the invention. sections on the lines 7 7 and 8 8 of Fig.l 6;

We have also reduced-the mass of metal at the base of the projectile, andv thus secured. a

larger capacity for explosive material and avoided the upsetting eiiect which a heavy base has upon the body of the shell at the time of impact dueto its inertia.

Several forms of ytheinventionfare illus- I '2, 3, and 4 are sections on the lines 2 2, 3" 3,- v and 44, respectively, of Fig. 1. :enlarged detail of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal central section of anothershell'em- Figs. 7 .and 8 are Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are sections similar to Fig. 7,but illustrating diierent forms in which the invention may be embodied.

Referring to Figs. 1 to Aofthe drawings, 2O indicates a shell having the usual cylindrical body andgconical point. The cavity of the shell is nonfcircular in crosseection having, as shown, circular portions 21 and inwardly? Fig. 5 is an projecting longitudinal l ribs or stil'eners 22.

.The walls 21 are of suicient thickness .to

withstand firing and in conjunction with the t, `stilfeners 22 to prevent deformation of.the

shell during penetration 'of armor-plate or other obstructions. We have found -it possible with this construction to carry the cavity considerably' farther into the nose or point Uof the 'shell than has been lpracticable with shells as heretofore constructed. The ribs or v`'stiieners 22 are vcontinuous and may be extended the full length of the cavity; but it is preferable to termnatethe ribs a short dis tance from the forward'end of thevca'vity, giving the latter a circular section 23 at its forward end, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. This is to facilitate manufacture of the shells, as the punches wear out more rapidly when the grooves in them which form .the ribs in the shell are carried to their forward-ends. The

- ribs or stilfeners preferably increase in depth that the mass of metal in the base ofA projectiles heretofore used has acted injuriously upon vthe shell at the time of'irnpact, causing upsetting and other deformation. A certain thickness of base is required at the center to receiveand hold the fuse, which is screwed into the usual opening 25. To lighten the base and still preserve a 'sufficient support for the fuse, we provide the base with a boss or extension 26, in. which the opening 25 is formed. We alsopreferably,roundthe.outer edge or corner of the base Z7 to make it as light as possible consistent withstrength and to facilitate the iight ofthe projectile and correspondinglyA round the internal corner 28.y In other words, the baseof theprojectile is made only heavy enough to t withstand the 'pressure of the propelling-gases in the-gun and to hold the fuse. `The boss surrounding the fuse-cavity lmay in some instances be eX- tended inward, as-shown'in Fig. 6. We also increase the strength of the projectile by making the groove 29 for' the rifling-bandvery shallow and with lround corners 30, the riingband 3l being fitted manner. In the form of projectile illustrated in Figs. 6, 7', and 8 the ribs or stiifeners 35 are the portions'of metal located betweenthe outer cir'- cles 32 33 and the inner fiat-tapering faces34.

The portions vwithin` the dotted circles are re quired only to give the shell columnar strength for penetrating purposes' and to prevent de formation-when penetrating. lThe tapering rectangular form of cavity has been'found vconvenient in'themanufacture of certain sizes yof shells or projectiles. The boss 36 in Fig. 6 projectsinwa'rdly, as heretofore described.

Figs. 9, 1'0, and 11 illustrate sections of different shells embodying theinvention. In Fig. 9, 37v indicates the ribs or stiffeners, and in Fig. 10 the ribs or stiifeners 38 lie between the dotted circles and thefaces 39. In Fig.

11,4 LLO-indicatee the ribs ors tifeners, and 41` the circular wall ofthe cavity.

It will be observed that in all forms ofthe invention illustrated the cavity is relatively large in crossfsec'tion, that itis prolonged into the nose or. 'point of the projectile more than usual, and that it is elongated. at'the base ofl the shell by making the said base'thinnerv than usual. Nevertheless, the columnarl strength and penetrating effect ofthe projectile are preserved by means ofthe internal .ribs or sti'- eners, and-the disruptive effect of the shell is preserved by the linesor zones ofweakness between the ribs. It Will also be observed that the ribs or stiifeners in the several forms of the projectile converge toward the'forward -to the groove in the usual endl of the shell, thus conforming sbmewhat to the arched formation .of saidl forward end.

It will be evident that our .invention may be embodied in other forms than those illustrated.

Therefore, without limiting ourselves to the precise construction illustrated and described, we claim- 1.. An explosiveprojectile comprising a shell having the usual -cylindrical body and. conical point,' said shell having an unobstructed central cavity, and having the 'Wall surrounding said cavity reinforced by continuous longitu-l dinal ribs or stien'ers. i

2. An explosive projectile comprising a shell having the usual cylindrical body and. conical point, said shell having an unobstructed central cavity, and' having the Walls surrounding said cavity reinforced by longitudinal ribs or stilfeners converging toward the forward end of the cavity.

3.` An explosive projectile comprising a shell having theusual cylindrical vbody and conical lpoint, said shell having an unobstructed cen'- tral cavity, and having the walls surrounding said cavity reinforced by continuous longitudinal ribsv or` stiiienersprojecting into said cavity.

4. An explosive projectile comprising a shell having the usual cylindricalbody andk conical point, said shell having an unobstructed central cavity,` and having the walls surrounding said cavity reinforced by longitudinal ribs br stifeners projecting into and converging toward theforward end of thecavity.

5. An explosive projectile comprising a shell having the usual cylindrical body and conical point, said shell having anaunobstructed cen- IOO tral cavity, and having the walls surrdunding said cavity reinforced by continuous longitu- 'dinal ribs or stifeners projecting. into said cavity and terminating near its forward end;

6. A11-explosive projectile comprising a Shell having the usual cylindrical body and conical point, said shell having an unobstructed cen-v tral cavity, and having the walls surrounding said cavity reinforced by longitudinal ribs or stiifeners projecting into said cavity, said ribs or, stiifeners converging toward and terminatingl near the forward end ofthe cavity.

7 An explosive projectile having the usual cylindrical body and conicalpoint and having the Walls surrounding its cavity reinforced by continuous longitudinal ribs orstifeners, said projectile having its rear end roundedand provided with an integral boss to-receive the fuse.y Y,

8. An explosive projectile having the usual" cylindrical body and conical point, and having the walls surrounding its'cavity reinforced'by continuous longitudinal ribs or stieners, said projectile. having its rear endl rounded vand provided with: alrearWardly-extended boss receive thefuse.v

9. An explosive projectile having the usual cylindrical body and conical'point` and having the walls surrounding, its cavity reinforced by continuous longitudinal ribs or stiifeners, said shell having a shallow circumferential seat for its riding-band terminating; in round ends or corners, for the purpose Set i'orth.

l0. An explosive projectile comprising a shell having a cavity for receiving a bursting charge and provided with internal longitudinal ribs gradually increasing in depth toward the JOHN F. MEIGS. EMIL GATHMANN.

A Witnesses:

GEORGE A. HILDENBEIMER` EDWxN A. MiLL'ER. 

